How to enable Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) for games on Windows 10

Here's what Variable Refresh Rate is and how to enable it on Windows 10.

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Windows 10 VRR
Windows 10 VRR / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To enable VRR on Windows 10, open Settings > System > Display > Graphics settings, and turn on the “Variable Refresh Rate” toggle switch.

On Windows 10, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is a feature that allows the display to dynamically adjust the frame rate to reduce stuttering and tearing while playing DirectX games in full-screen mode, which does not support this feature natively.

VRR was originally available on Windows 10 1903. It’s similar to Nvidia G-Sync and VESA DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync but doesn’t replace these technologies. Instead, according to Microsoft, Variable Refresh Rate is a feature that complements these other technologies to improve the gaming experience.

In this guide, I will teach you steps to enable Variable Refresh Rate for games on Windows 10.

Enable Variable Refresh Rate on Windows 10

To enable Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 10.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click on Display.

  4. Click the Graphics settings option under the “Multiple displays” section.

    Windows 10 Display settings

  5. Turn on the “Variable Refresh Rate” toggle switch.

    Variable refresh rate setting on Windows 10

Once you complete the steps, the new feature will be enabled, helping to reduce stuttering and tearing while playing games.

You can use the VRR feature alongside G-Sync or Adaptive-Sync without issues.

It’s important to note that Windows 11 also includes the Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) feature, which is very similar to the Variable Refresh Rate feature. 

The difference is that VRR is a broader term that describes the technology that allows your monitor’s refresh rate to adjust dynamically depending on the content. On the other hand, DRR is a specific implementation of VRR for Windows 11 devices that focuses on optimizing battery life while maintaining a smooth experience by dynamically adjusting the refresh rate based on what you’re doing on your laptop.

Although you can enable VRR on most devices, you will need a laptop with a display with a minimum refresh rate of 120Hz and compatible graphics drivers (WDDM 3.0 or later).

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].